Evaluation of Training on Coping With Perinatal Loss on Undergraduate Midwifery Students’ Competence in Bereavement Care

Abstract

Objective: To determine participants’ pre- and post-training competence in perinatal bereavement care, along with evaluation of the training. Methods: A quasi-experimental study with a pre–post design was conducted in two phases. The training on coping with perinatal loss (TCPL) was first delivered entirely online to a cohort of students in 2022(N = 56). To enhance the initial intervention, a second cohort of students in 2023(N = 44) received the TCPL with an added on-site scenario simulation component. Questionnaires of Perinatal Bereavement Care Competence Scale, Self-Competence in Death Work Scale, Jefferson Scale of Empathy, Chinese version of the Stress-Related Growth Scale-Short Form, and the evaluation of scenario simulation were used to evaluate the effectiveness of the training. Results: Including 52 junior undergraduate midwifery students in 2022 and 44 in 2023 completed the questionnaires. We observed higher post-training scores for perinatal bereavement care competence and stress-related growth, and a high degree of satisfaction in the scenario of simulations. Conclusions: The results support the feasibility of the training and are consistent with short-term improvements; confirmatory controlled studies are warranted. Trial Registration: Chinese Registry of Clinical Trials: ChiCTR2200066048.